Seedling
The first blade is linear, about 7 times longer than wide and opens somewhat parallel to the ground. Leaves are rolled in the bud; auricles are absent; and the ligule is a fringe of hairs (1-3 mm long), from a membranous base.
Juvenile plant
Leaf blades are linear (10-30 cm long, 1-2 cm wide), pubescent on the upper surface, without hairs on the lower surface. The sheath is round to somewhat keeled, without hair to rough to the touch, pubescent on the margins.
Mature plant
Leaves have numerous short hairs on the upper surfaces of the blades and on the margins of the sheaths. The culm is ascending to erect, often sharply bent below. Weak plants may lodge unless supported by other vegetation, branching below, without hairs.
Root structure description
The root system is fibrous, and tillers will produce roots at the base.
Flowers
Blooms in mid to late summer. The seedhead is a large cylindrical, spike-like panicle (3-20 cm long, 1-3 cm wide), often nodding, and is green to purple. Spikelets are two-flowered, strongly transversely wrinkled (2.5-3 mm long, 1.2-1.5 mm wide), subtended by 2-6 scabrous bristles (up to 1 cm long). There are no awns, but bristles have the appearance of awns.
Post senescene
The seedhead is generally present from late summer through autumn.
